Effective Strategies to Save Money on Your Dream Wedding

Decoration & flowers: $500-$1500: Includes floral arrangements and table decor.

Entertainment: $500-$1500 DJs, live musicians, other entertainment

Miscellaneous$300-$1000 invitations, favors, and Officiants, fees, permits

Total average:5,800-18,0000

have water or juice, Rather then having alcohol options

the season of your wedding

Use Digital invitations, check out this website, Greenvelope.com.

Simply the menu

The number of guests: when having a larger wedding, it's very difficult to connect with your guests, and you may only be able to talk to 50% of your guests. In a smaller wedding with a smaller guest count, you will be able to connect longer and have more meaningful connections.

Here is an average range of what a venue costs based on guests for the following:

Guest size ranging from 1-50 guests, it costs anywhere from $500-$2,500

Guest size ranging from 51 to 150 guests costs anywhere from $2500-$7000

Guest size ranging from 151 to 300 guests costs anywhere from $7,000-$15,000

Guest size ranging in the 300 + guest range from 15,000 and up

Location of the wedding

Having a smaller guest count could be more flexible on where and what venue you choose: I found a list with the average cost of a wedding, which would be based on the region:

According to Lastcost.com, here are the rates for the following regions.

Northeast Region $300-$12,000

Midwest Region $1000-$6,000

South region $800-$7000

West Region $2000=$15,000

Mountain West Region $1,200 - $8,000

Having your own transportation, according to the Knot, couples spend $1075 on transportation.

Marriage License- you can save money if you are on a low-income waiver, a military, or a veteran discount.

officiant fee- Get quotes from 3-5 officiants and see which one supports your needs, choose an off-peak season time.

Use outside resources. I would also use Facebook groups to find special vendors and different rates, or ask other brides.

Invitations and stationery

One of the other key things I would look for if I were trying to save a bride more money for the wedding, or give her any suggestions, I would add the following things:

-Book during off-peak season: Late fall and winter months often have lower rates.

-Avoid major holidays such as Christmas and Valentine's Day.

-I would book your wedding venue spot at least 12-18 months in advance.

If I were looking for another way to save money, I would buy and make my own food:

such as the following appetizers. Here are just a few that are on the budget-friendly side.

Homemade bruschetta bar coming in at approximately $3-4 per person.

Build your own cheese and charcuterie boards, coming in at approximately $5-7 per person.

Homemade mushrooms with breadcrumb filling are around $2-3 per person.

Now let's dig into the full-course meals, which are our favorite, right?

Pasta buffet with multiple sauce options

Taco bar, build your own style.

Pulled pork and/or chicken

Last but not least are all-time favorites: Desserts.

Cupcakes

Homemade cookie bar

Fruit with whipped cream - Look for fruit that is in season

Now, as far as saving money, the other area we can save more money in is our drinks:

Here are a few cost-effective drinks:

Sparkling water (ice)

Crystal Light

Gatorade Fit

Party lemonade

Hippie juice

Who's ready to book your wedding photographer now that we've saved money in other areas?

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